Richard Bartmuß was a German composer. As a first son of the organist Woldemar Bartmuß in Schleesen, he was born into musical surroundings. The father was well-known for his organ lectures at the Schleesener Dorfkirche, Franz Liszt gave him as appreciation his entire organ compositions. In 1860 the family moved to Bitterfeld, where Richard already supported his father with the musical organization of the services. He visited the Wittenberger Gymnasium and due to his high musical interest, was sent to the teacher seminar in Delitzsch. In 1879 he passes the first and second teacher examination and became a teacher at the Knabenschule in Wittenberg. He finisged the state examination in 1881 down.

In 1885 Richard Bartmuß became organist at the Schlosskirche St. Marien in Dessau. On April 29, 1890 he became court organist of duke Friedrichs I. Still in the same he married the concert singer and pianist Anna Schubert, with whom he had five children. He received honour, such as the "Königlicher Musikdirigent" (Royal Music Conductor), the "Orden für Wissenschaft und Kunst" (Medal for Science and Art), as well as in 1903 the appointments as the "Königlichen Professor für Musik" (Royal Professor for Music).